'Want to play like him': Hardik Pandya's special message leaves RCB player emotional

Star Indian men’s squad all-rounder Hardik Pandya amazed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women subordinate Gautami Naik with a peculiar connection aft her match-winning 50 against Gujarat Giants (GG) successful the 12th lucifer of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 connected Monday.

The uncapped Indian batter registered her maiden WPL half-century, scoring 73 disconnected 55 balls, arsenic RCB secured their 5th consecutive triumph of the play to stay unbeaten.In a video shared connected RCB’s Instagram handle, Gautami revealed that Hardik Pandya is her cricketing idol and that she aspires to play similar him.

“My cricketing idol is Hardik Pandya. I privation to play similar him. I ticker his matches successful the unit situations, each the time.

I ticker him play calmly, and that's my quality arsenic well. I spot myself being akin to him, and I privation to play similar him,” Gautami said, arsenic per an RCB release.To her surprise, Pandya sent a congratulatory video connection to Gautami connected her archetypal WPL fifty, saying helium felt honoured to beryllium her cricketing idol portion urging her to stay disciplined, bask the crippled and proceed performing for her franchise and the country.“Hi Gautami, Hardik here. I got to cognize that I americium your cricketing idol.

First of all, it feels truly large to animate a batch of young cricketers. And galore congratulations connected your archetypal half-century. Enjoy the sport. I anticipation going guardant successful life, you bash much and amended for your franchisee and for the country. Keep loving the sport, beryllium disciplined and enjoy,” Pandya said, arsenic per the release.Reacting to the message, Gautami expressed disbelief and happiness, calling it a large infinitesimal successful her life.

She thanked Pandya, praised him arsenic a subordinate and person, and shared her tendency to conscionable him and emulate his game. She besides wished Pandya the champion for the T20 World Cup 2026, hoping helium leads India to glory.“This is simply a large infinitesimal for me. I didn't expect thing similar this. I can't archer you however I americium feeling close now. He is my idol and I americium getting messages from him means I person achieved thing successful my life. Thank you truthful overmuch for this.

I would truly similar to conscionable him, I similar him a lot, arsenic a player, and his nature, arsenic an athlete.”“Hardik sir, I would similar to conscionable you. I americium a large instrumentality of yours. I privation to play similar you. Keep encouraging me. And each the champion for the T20 World Cup, anticipation you bash good too. Our blessings are with you. Keep going and assistance India assistance the World Cup,” Gautami said.

In the match, RCB continued their ascendant tally successful WPL 2026, thrashing Gujarat Giants by 61 runs successful Vadodara to registry their 5th consecutive triumph and enactment firmly connected apical of the points array with a cleanable record.